In an elegant series of micro‎-narratives‎,‎ Brian Baer exposes the flash points of modern Russian literary history‎.‎ Translation becomes a key to the misconnections and dissonances that mark Russia‎'‎s changing literary relations with the West‎-from the passionate ideals of the 19th century Decembrists to the uncertainties of the post‎-Soviet era‎.‎ It is a pleasure to be in Baer‎'‎s company‎:‎ he is an erudite and stylish guide‎,‎ with a keen eye for paradox‎.‎ Sherry Simon‎,‎ Professor of French Studies‎,‎ Concordia University‎,‎ Canada‎,‎ and author of Cities in Translation‎:‎ Intersections of Language and Memory A very interesting and timely book that simultaneously addresses at least three overlapping but significantly different audiences‎:‎ those who are interested in translation history in general and Russian translation history in particular‎,‎ the siren call of Romantic nationalism‎,‎ and sexuality and gender‎.‎ Douglas Robinson‎,‎ Chair Professor of English‎,‎ Hong Kong Baptist University‎,‎ Hong Kong ‎"‎[Baer‎'‎s] archly intel‎.‎‎.‎‎.‎